About.On paper, he was a statistic, but he beat the odds...
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Meet Negro Spiritual 121
Richard Zobon Baxter
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About.Negro Spiritual 121 is a native Tulsan with a passion for his community. After spending time in prison, and getting his 121 year sentence overturned, Negro Spiritual pursued higher education and obtained a degree in paralegal studies. After working for the public defender’s office, as well as a private law practice, he became a freelance paralegal, helping others receive the representation promised to them in the law. Negro Spiritual’s experience with the criminal justice system gives him a unique perspective in how the system works.
As a community activist, he started a nonprofit organization, #racismstinks, to fight racism, and heal the racial divide in Tulsa. Along with social justice, he has taken up the fight for economic justice as well. With his “Black Business Friday” initiative, he showcases the many different Black-owned businesses in Tulsa Negro Spiritual 121 has also partnered with Websites4Good. This organization not only establishes a much needed online presence and promotion for North Tulsa businesses, but helps build economic relationships by bringing North Tulsa business owners together through a monthly networking event, “Meet and Eat.” We Gotta Take Care of Us! |
Pull Over (Protecting yourself at traffic stops)
We Gotta Take Care of Us = Love
This is Negro Spiritual 121’s call to action! This statement is to remind us that family is the beginning of community and we are all family.
To achieve true freedom we gotta unite and share our knowledge and resources like brothers and sisters in a family. We can no longer wait for someone else to bring us justice, reparations, or equality. We must have unity.. We must have love. We Gotta Take Care of Us!
To achieve true freedom we gotta unite and share our knowledge and resources like brothers and sisters in a family. We can no longer wait for someone else to bring us justice, reparations, or equality. We must have unity.. We must have love. We Gotta Take Care of Us!
Building Our Own Table = Freedom
Historically, the Black Community was self-sufficient out of necessity, due to various state and federal laws that were racially discriminatory. Negro Spiritual 121 believes that our community is in a “state of emergency,” and we can only progress financially, spiritually, and educationally, when we revive the spirit of self-determination and self-sufficiency, which built Greenwood. There are many groups, programs, and organizations that are doing great work, but we must unite. We Gotta Take Care of Us!
Take this pledge with me...
I pledge allegiance
to my brothas and sistahs
in these United States of America
you are all my family
for whom I shall stand
in this nation against all odds
til we reach liberty
and justice
for us